Accumulator plant



Aug. 10, 1937. P. GlLLl 2,089,915

ACCUMULA'I'OR PLANT Filed Feb. 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lmmvsy 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1956 Aug. 10, 1937. P. GILL! ACCUMULATOR PLANT Filed Feb. 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 10, 1937.

P. GILL] 2,089,915

ACCUMULAI'OR PLANT Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQE Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,271 In Austria September 20, 1932 11 Claims.

My invention relates to accumulator plants. The object of my invention is to provide a novel and efficient accumulator plant which consists of several accumulator vessels and is more especially suitable for the accumulation of steam and water at very high pressures.

Further objects and the nature of the invention will appear from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing several forms of steam plant arrangements embodying the invention, it being understood that these forms shown are for illustrative purposes and that the invention may be embodied in other forms.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic crosssectional view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatic crosssectional view of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a third embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a more or less diagrammatic view, chiefly in cross-section, of a still further embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown more diagrammatically in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a view of a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view, partially in cross-section, of another portion of the apparatus shown more diagrammatically in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows schematically an accumulator plant consisting of accumulator vessels I, 2 and 3. All three accumulators are filled with water and are protected by insulation against heat losses. On container 3 a water gauge 3 is arranged. In the water space of accumulator I a spiral tube 5 is disposed through which flows highly superheated steam. The flow of steam through spiral tube 5 is regulated by valve 6.

Accumulator I is connected to accumulator 2 by a pipe I in which a check valve 8 is arranged. Pipe I begins at the height of the water level in accumulator I and terminates in the water space of accumulator 2. Pipe I has openings 9 through which steam can flow from accumulator I into the water of accumulator 2.

Accumulator 2 is connected to accumulator 3 by means of pipe 10 which at H is carried up above the water level in accumulator 3, thereby preventing flow of water from accumulator 3 back into accumulator 2.

A pipe I2, in which is arranged valve I3, connects with the steam space of accumulator 3 with a spiral tube I5 arranged in a container I4. From this spiral tube I 5 steam flows through pipe I6 to the consumer (not shown).

The steam drawn from accumulator 3 and flowing through spiral tube I5 is superheated in container II. For this purpose the superheater It is connected to the steam space of accumulator I by pipe I7, and by pipe I8 to the water space of accumulator I.

Through pipe I9, in which is arranged stop valve 20, water can be supplied to accumulator I, or can be drawn ofi". Pipe I2 is connected to superheater I4 by means of pipe 22 provided with back pressure valve 2|.

The mode of operation of the plant is the following:

If heat is supplied to accumulator I through spiral tube 5, temperature and pressure in accumulator I rise. In consequence, steam, and if the water level in accumulator I is higher than i and temperature in accumulator 2 are somewhat I higher than pressure and temperature in accumulator 3.

If accumulator steam is required, valve I3 is opened and steam flows from accumulator 3 through pipe I2 and superheater I4, thereby causing pressure and temperature in accumulator 3 to drop. In consequence thereof accumulator 2 also supplies steam to accumulator 3 through pipe II].

From accumulator I, steam flows through pipe I! to the superheater II. The resulting condensate flows through pipe i8 back into accumulator I. Steam may also flow from accumulator I through pipe 1 into accumulator 2.

During discharge, pressure and temperature in the accumulator system fall, during charging, pressure and temperature rise.

In Fig. 2, entrance 23 of pipe I is shown in enlarged scale. Pipe I is carried above the water level and has several openings 24 at the height of the water level, through which water enters pipe 1 when the Water level rises above the level of these openings. The steam flows in the direction of the arrows through upper opening 25. When the Water level rises suddenly, for instance on sudden discharge of the accumulator, comparatively little water flows through opening 24 into pipe 1, while through opening 25 steam can freely enter.

The entrance of pipe H) in accumulator 2 can be devised in the same way.

In Fig. 3, an accumulator plant is shown including six accumulators 3|, 32, 33, 35, 35 and 35. Excess steam is charged through pipe 31 into the water space of accumulator 3|. A valve 38 is provided in pipe 31. The various accumulators are connected With each other by pipes 39, 10, 4|, 42 and 53. In the connecting pipes, back pressure valves 39', 40', 4|, 52' and 43 are arranged. Thus the accumulators are connected in series for charging purposes. That is, the steam and/or water flows from accumulator ill to accumulator 32, from accumulator 32 to accumulator 33, and so forth.

On the last accumulator 36, a water gauge 55 is provided. In the remaining accumulators such a Water gauge is not required, as the entrance of the connecting pipes limit the water level in the various accumulators.

From accumulator 36 steam is drawn through pipe 45, the accumulator steam being superheated in superheat-er 55 which is connected to accumulator 3| by means of pipes 41 and 48. The withdrawal of steam is regulated by valve 5.

Apart from pipe 45, a second discharge pipe 5| is provided to which the various accumulators are connected in parallel by back pressure valves 52, 53, 54, 55, 5E and 51. When valve 65 is closed, the accumulators are discharged in series, that is, the steam flows through the connecting pipes 39, 40, 4!, 42, 53 from one accumulator into the other, and from the last accumulator 35 into discharge pipe 45.

If valve 60 is opened, steam flows from all six accumulators, through back pressure valves 52, 53, 54, 55, 55, 51 into discharge pipe 5|, and through valve 60 to superheater 45.

If the accumulator plant is discharged through pipe 45 only, the entire steam quantity must evaporate through the water surface in accumulator 36. During discharge of the accumulator plant through pipe 5|, each accumulator supplies only about one sixth of the entire steam quantity. Thus, a sixfold water surface is available for evaporation.

When the accumulator plant is fully charged the accumulators 3|, 32, 33, 35 and 35 may be completely filled, and in the first stage of the discharge period the accumulator plant is discharged only through pipe 45. When the accumulator pressure has sunk and a greater water surface has formed in the various accumulators, the accumulator plant may be discharged through pipe 5|.

Superheater 46 is connected to pipe 5! by means of pipe 6| in which stop valve 52 is arranged. Superheater 46 is supplied with steam from accumulator 3| through pipe 41. If this steam is not sufiicient for superheating, additional steam for superheating can be taken from the accumulator 32 or the following accumulators by opening valve 62.

In the plant illustrated in Fig. 4, high pressure boiler 1| supplies steam to a high pressure pipe 12, and low pressure boiler 13 supplies steam to low pressure pipe 14. Between the high pressure pipe and the low pressure pipe, back pressure turbine 15 is inserted. To low pressure pipe 14 are connected turbine 15 and further consumers 11. These consumers may, for instance, be a heating plant.

The accumulator plant consists of accumulators 18, 19 and 80, which are connected with each other through pipes 8| and 82. 'In the accumulators, tubular members 83 are provided to ensure a sufiicient water circulation.

High pressure accumulator 18 receives high pressure steam through pipe 34 in which an overflow valve 93 is arranged. Valve 93 functions to open upon an increase in pressure in pipe 12 to admit steam to the accumulator, thus tending to maintain the pressure in pip-e 12 constant.

The discharge pipe is designated by reference character 85. From here the steam flows through superheater 86 and pipe 81 into the low pressure pipe 1 Apart therefrom, a further discharge pipe 88 is provided. 89, 90, ill, 92 and 93 are regulating valves.

It is assumed that the pressure in the high pressure boiler and in pipe 12 is about 1700 lbs/sq. inch, and in low pressure pipe 15 approximately 300 lbs/sq. inch. The maximum pressure of the accumulator plant 13, 19, 30, is equal to the boiler pressure, that is 1760 lbs/sq. inch.

The mode of operation of the plant is as follows:

If there is surplus steam in pipe 12, overflow valve 93 is opened and the surplus steam flows into accumulator 18. Valve 02 is open during the charging period and therefore all three accumulators are charged simultaneously through pipes 84, 8| and 82.

If more steam is required in the steam plant than the boilers produce, discharge valve 89 is opened and steam flows from accumulator through superheater into low pressure pipe 14. Accumulator 19 thereby gives off steam to the accumulator 80. The steam required for superheating is drawn from accumulator 18. In the beginning of the discharging period, valve 92 is closed. By means of valve 89 the pressure of the accumulator steam, which at the beginning of discharge is high, is throttled. Therefore, the temperature of thesteam on entering the superheater 86 is comparatively low and is increased again by means of steam from accumulator 18, the pressure of which as long as valve 92 is closed, is higher than the pressure in the other accumulators.

Since, on decrease of pressure, the specific volume of the steam increases from a certain pressure (for instance 700 lbs/sq. inch), it may be of advantage to withdraw steam direct from accumulators 15 and 85 simultaneously. To do this, valve so is opened so that accumulator 19 supplies steam to pipe 85. By opening valve 9|, accumulator 13 can also supply steam to pipe 85.

The regulation of the plant may be effected by simple means, if desired automatically, for instance by governing overflow valve 93 by means of the pressure in pipe 12, and discharge valve 89 by means of the pressure in pipe 14.

The plant above described has the advantage that, owing to the great pressure drop from 1700 lbs/sq. inch to 300 lbs./sq.inch, as assumed in the example, a very large quantity of steam may be drawn from the accumulator plant. The accumulators constructed for the high pressure (in the present example 1700 lbs/sq. inch) have a comparatively great thickness of plates. For accumulators, forged drums of the kind used for high pressure boilers may be chosen. A large part of the heat to be accumulated is taken up by the shells of the high pressure accumulators. The shells themselves thus take part to agreat extent in the accumulation, the capacity of high pressure accumulators being thereby increased, according to pressure conditions, for instance by 50% and more.

A further advantage consists therein that no alterations to the power engines of the plant are necessary, while in the known steam accumulators supplying steam to power engines, alterations for the steam entrance and in the regulation must be made.

In many cases it may be of advantage to lower the pressure in the low pressure line I4, which in the above example is assumed to be 300 lbs/sq. inch, even further, for instance down to 200 lbs/sq. inch. This makes it possibleto discharge the accumulator even further and to draw still larger quantities of steam from the accumulator. The pressure in boiler I3 may thereby sink too, so that the accumulating capacity of the boilers can also be utilized. The lower limit down to which the accumulator pressure may be discharged below normal working pressure depends on what lowest pressure is per- 30 mitted by the consumers fed by the accumulator plant. For additional discharge of the accumulator it is possible to lower the pressure to below normal working pressure in the case of part of the consumers only.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 represents the steam plant of an electric generating station. The boiler plant of the station is designated IOI, and the superheater I02. The boiler supplies steam through pipe I03 to the turbine 40 consisting of a high pressure section I04 and low pressure section I05. The condenser is designated I06, the condensate tank or hot Well I01, and the generator I08. The accumulator plant consists of vessels I09, H0, III, H2, H3, H4,

H0, H6. Accumulator vessels I09 and H0 are connected by pipes H1 and H8. These pipes enable a circulation of the water to take place between the accumulators I09 and II 0.

Accumulators I09, H5 and H6 are equipped with water gauges. The accumulator consisting of vessels I09 and H0 serves primarily for superheating the steam taken from vessels H5 and H6. A pipe H9 leads from accumulator I09 to the accumulator plant HIII6, which is divided in two parallel groups HI, H3, H5, and H2, H4, H0. Steam is taken from both groups by means of pipe I20 and is superheated in the spiral tube I2I arranged inside accumulator I09. The steam then flows through steam I22 into the main pipe line I03.

Part of the main steam line I03 is surrounded by an evaporator jacket I23. Pipes I24 and I25 lead from accumulator I09 to the lower part of the jacket I23. A pump I26 and a regulating F valve I21 are inserted in pipe I25.

Pipes I28 and I29 lead from the upper part of jacket I23 to distributing pipe I30 arranged in accumulator H0. Pipe I3I, in which pump I32 and throttling valve I33 are arranged, leads from feed Water tank I01 to pipe I25.

The accumulator plant is charged in the following Way:

Water is taken from accumulator I09 by means of pump I36 and is forced into jacket I23, through which main steam line I03 is carried. Boiler plant IOI and superheater I02 supply superheated steam. In this modification the boiler pressure is assumed to be 530 lbs/sq. in. and the steam temperature 850 F. The boiler steam flowing through the evaporator I23 transfers heat to the water fed into the jacket, thus causing it to evaporate. The temperature of the boiler steam is thereby lowered. The steam generated in evaporator I23, which can have a very high pressure of say 1700 lbs/sq. inch, due to the high temperature of the superheated steam in line I03, now flows by way of pipe I28 through pipe I29 into accumulator H0, thus heating the water content of both shells I09 and H0. During the charging period valve I 34 is open. Steam, and under given circumstances also hot water, flows through pipe H9 into accumulator III II 6, thus charging the latter. In this way it is possible to charge the entire accumulator plant to a very high pressure corresponding to the temperature of the superheated steam in pipe I03.

The accumulator plant is discharged by opening valve I35. Steam. then flows from accumulators H5 and H0 through steam line I22 into main pipe line I03. The pressure of the accumulator steam is throttled by means of valve I35.

During the discharging process, accumulators IH--I I4 also supply steam to the accumulators behind. When the accumulator plant is fully I charged, accumulator shells III-H4 are completely filled with water. During the discharging period, part of the water in these tanks evaporates and a gradually falling water level results.

As valve I34 is closed at the beginning of the discharging period, accumulators II II I6 serve for supplying steam to the turbine, whereas accumulators I09 and H0 serve exclusively for superheating the accumulator steam by means of spiral tube I2I. During the latter part of the discharging period, for instance at a pressure from 700 lbs/sq. inch down, valve I34 can be opened so that accumulator I09 and H0 can supply steam for the turbine through vessels II I-I I6.

The steam taken from the accumulator plant flows through back pressure valve I36 into main pipe I03, where it mixes with the steam from the boiler plant. The steam supply to the high pressure section I04 of the turbine is regulated by speed governor controlled valve I3'I. When the pressure of the accumulator plant has dropped to the pressure of main line I03, valve I38 is opened, through which accumulator steam can be led into the pipe connecting the high pressure section and the low pressure section of the turbine. The supply of accumulator steam is then regulated by the speed governor, which is connected to both valves I31 and I39, in such manner that with decreasing rotative speed valve I31 opens first and then valve I39.

In this case the accumulator plant can be discharged to below the pressure of the main pipe I03, down to the pressure in the low pressure section I05, for example 30 lbs/sq. inch.

The regulation of the steam supply to turbine sections I04 and I05 can also be carried out in such a way that valve I38 is opened before the accumulator pressure has dropped to the pressure in the main pipe I03. In this case supplementary steam can be fed into the turbine by means of governing valve I39, so that the output of the turbine can be increased.

Valve I40 permits heating the accumulated water to a temperature corresponding to the.

boiler pressure, by leading steam from the main pipe I03 directly through pipe I29 into vessel I I0.

Water can be fed into the accumulator plant by means of pump I32 either by pumping the feed water into pipe I25 and through valve I33 (for instance during charging of the accumulator), or else directly through valve I4I into accumulator 109.

An automatic regulation of the plant can be effected by simple means, for instance in the following manner. Discharge valve I35 is governed like a reducing valve by the pressure in the main pipe line I93, so that valve I35 opens when the pressure in the main pipe I03 falls, and closes when the pressure increases.

Valve I38 can be governed in such a way that it opens as soon as the pressure in pipe I22 corresponds to the pressure in pipe I03.

Charging valve I21 can be governed by the temperature of the steam in pipe 503 behind evaporator I23. When this temperature increases beyond a certain degree, valve I2? is opened by the increase in pressure in thermostatic element I43 which is disposed in heat exchange relation with pipe I63 and water is fed into the jacket I23, thus drawing heat from the superheated steam and decreasing its temperav ture.

Valve I33 can be governed corresponding to the water level in accumulator tank I09 in. such way that it opens when the lowest water level in the accumulator is reached, and it closes when the highest water level is exceeded.

In order to save unnecessary power consumption, the regulation of valves I21 and I33 can be effected by switching on the pumps I26 and I32 when these valves are closed, and not starting the pumps again until the valves commence to open.

44) The cooling-elf losses of the accumulator plant can be covered in the following way. Valve I42 is arranged parallel to valve I35 and is governed corresponding tothe highest Water level in shells II 5' and H6. When this highest water level-is 45 reached, valve I42 is opened somewhat by fioat I49 and allows steam to flow from the accumulator plant into pipe I22, even if regulating valve I 35 should be closed. The heat content of the steam taken from the accumulator plant in this 50 way is less than the heat content of the steam supplied to the. accumulator plant by means of pipe I29. Thus surplus heat compensates the cooling-off losses.

When the accumulator is fully charged, that is when the highest pressure is reached in the accumulator plant, the firing of the boiler plant is reduced, as otherwise steam would be blown off through the safety valves.

The plant shown in Fig. 5 is specially suited (1.) to such power stations which must always have a reserve output at hand. Up till now in such plants reserve boilers were kept under fire in order that these boilers could in case of emergency immediately supply the steam necessary for the generation of the required power.

As the accumulator plant herein described can supply the required steam instantaneously, it is no longer essential to keep reserve boilers under P fire, which results in a considerable saving in coal. The arrangement of the evaporator in the main pipe l23-has the advantage that the regulation and control of the charging process is simplified considerably and the complications of the main v pipe line are avoided.

Fig. 6 shows the construction of the evaporator more in detail.

It may be of advantage, in order to obtain a larger heating surface, to divide the main pipe I03 into several pipe lines, as shown in Fig. 7. Here steam pipe N33 is divided into three branches IIISa, I832) and I630. Pipe I25 through which the accumulator water is supplied to the jackets of the various steam pipe lines is also divided into three branches I25a, I251) and I250 Fig. 8 shows the mounting of the accumulator tanks. The tanks are fastened to each other by means of saddles IEI, joining the entire accumulator plant into one unit. In this modification the accumulator plant is covered by a common layer of insulation I52.

A further advantage of the high pressure accumulator plant as compared with the already known low pressure accumulators is that it requires very little space to stand on.

The high pressure accumulator plant can also be applied with great advantage for the utilization of excess electric energy, such as is available at night in water power stations, for economic purposes. This may for instance be effected in such way that the steam for charging the accumulator vessels is produced in an evaporator I58 heated by a resistance coil I5I supplied with excess electric current from alternator I52. This evaporator may be erected on the side of I the evaporator I23 and be connected in parallel with the latter. It is, however, also possible in such plants, to do without the evaporator l23 altogether and to charge the accumulator plant with the aid of the electrically heated evaporator I58 only.

Such power stations equipped with accumulator plants charged with electric current may be operated in such manner that the boilers during standby operation are not fired by fuel. Merely the turbine and the boiler plant are kept warm by means of steam from the accumulator plant, so that these parts can be placed in operation very quickly. Upon a sudden demand for current, the turbine is first fed from the accumulator alone and in the meantime the boilers are fired.

In connection with Fig. 5 it must be added that E43 and IM indicate pipes through which water is introduced into the accumulators H5 and I I6 or drawn off out of these accumulators.

I wish it to be understood that 1 do not desire to be limited to the exact details of the invention shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. The scope of my invention is to be limited only by the appended claims viewed in the light of the prior art.

Certain features, particularly of the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 through 8, not claimed herein, formthe subject matter and are claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 152,290, filed July '7, 1937.

What I claim is:

1. In an accumulator plant, a plurality of vessels, one of said vessels constituting an initial vessel and another of said vessels constituting a final vessel, means for charging said initial vessel, means for Withdrawing steam from said final vessel, and conduit means connecting said vessels in series and providing an open path for uninterrupted How of fluid between said vessels from said initial vessel to said final vessel while preventing flow ofliquid between said vessels from said final vessel to said initial vessel at least during charging and discharging periods, so that steam spaces may form in the respective vessels on discharge, said conduit means connecting the steam space of one vessel with the water space or" another vessel, the same said conduit means serving for unidirectional inter-flow between vessels on charging and similar unidirectional interiiow between vessels on discharging, whereby the charge imparted to said initial vessel is distributed among said plurality of vessels through said conduit connecting means and said vessels are discharged simultaneously upon withdrawal of steam from said final vessel by fiow through said conduit connecting means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including one way valve means in the conduit connecting means between vessels constructed and arranged to permit flow between said vessels from said initial to said final vessel while preventing flow of liquid between said vessels from said final vessel to said initial vessel.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including one or more liquid traps in the conduit connecting means to permit fiow between said vessels from said initial to said final vessel while preventing fiow oi liquid between said vessels from said final vessel to said initial vessel.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the connection of the connecting means to one or more of the vessels at the point of withdrawal is below the vessel top to limit the water level and provide steam space therein.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means to supply make-up water to the initial vessel for all the vessels.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means to supply make-up water to the initial vessel for all the vessels and means to indicate the water level in the final vessel.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having additional conduit means for discharging the vessels in parallel.

8. In an accumulator plant, a plurality of vessels, one of said vessels constituting an initial vessel and another of said vessels constituting a final vessel, means for charging said initial vessel, means for withdrawing steam from said final vessel, conduit means connecting said vessels in series and providing an open path for uninterrupted flow of fiuid between said vessels from said initial vessel to said final vessel while preventing fiow of liquid between said vessels from said final vessel to said initial vessel at least during charging and discharging periods, so that steam spaces may form in the respective vessels on discharge, said conduit means connecting the steam space of one vessel with the water space of another vessel, the same said conduit means serving for unidirectional interfiow between vessels at least on charging, whereby the charge imparted to said initial vessel is distributed among said plurality of vessels through said conduit connecting means, and means to transfer heat stored in one of the vessels to steam withdrawn from a subsequent vessel in the line of series flow.

9. In an accumulator plant, a plurality of vessels, one of said vessels constituting an initial vessel and another of said vessels constituting a final vessel, means for charging said initial vessel, means for withdrawing steam from said final vessel, conduit means connecting said vessels in series and providing an open path for uninterrupted flow of fluid between said vessels from said initial vessel to said final vessel while preventing flow of liquid between said vessels from said final vessel to said initial vessel at least during charging and discharging periods, so that steam spaces .may form in the respective vessels on discharge,

said conduit means connecting the steam space of one vessel with the water space of another vessel, the same said conduit means serving for unidirectional interflow between vessels at least on charging, whereby the charge imparted to said initial vessel is distributed among said plurality of vessels through said conduit connecting means, means to reduce the pressure of steam withdrawn from one of the vessels, and means to superheat the steam at reduced pressure by heat stored in an earlier vessel in the line of series flow.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a superheater heated by the contents of the initial vessel, conduit means to conduct steam from the final vessel to the superheater, and pressure reducing means disposed in said conduit means.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a superheater, means to conduct steam from the initial vessel into heat exchange relation with the superheater, means to withdraw condensate from heat exchange relation with the superheater, a conduit for conducting steam from the final vessel, to the superheater, a throttling member in the last-mentioned conduit, and means to close the connection between the initial and final vessels to conserve the heat stored in the initial vessel for superheating.

PAUL GILLI. 

